IAC VOLLEYBALL: TIOGA FIGHTS TO FINISH IN LOSS TO RIVAL CANDOR (24 PHOTOS) (2021-04-12)
BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
CANDOR - Tioga put up a strong fight in a 3-0 IAC South Small School loss to Candor here Monday night, seemingly unfazed by the fact the team on the opposite side of the net was the defending New York state Class D volleyball champions.
"I'm not disappointed," said Tioga coach Des Ford. "I had to move people around because I'm down a middle. I'm pleased. Candor had to work for the match."
Candor coach Pam Quinlan was well aware that Tioga would be ready to battle.
"I knew they would," she said. "They always come ready to play and the coaches do a nice job of preparing them. And they've got some hustlers over there, some hitters and servers, so I knew they would come to play."
Of course when you're playing your rival - pardon the cliché - you can throw records right out the window.
"The girls did a nice job," Ford said. "Defensively, I thought we stepped it up, but we were cautious and safe on offense, and you can't be. We worked on it last week.
"I'm pleased, because it was better than the first time. We challenged them. The last time, we challenged them in one set. This time, it was two; a little of the second, not much, a couple plays."
The Tigers would lead a good portion of the opening set before falling, 25-22. Tioga managed to lead much of the final set as well before the Indians pulled out a 25-19 win. In between, Candor took advantage of the visitor's early mistakes to build a comfortable lead en route to a 25-14 triumph.
"I think it's just that mindset of always looking for that next point," Quinlan said of the Indians' ability to rally in the first and third games. "You didn't win the one before that, but you win the next one and try not to let servers get on too much of a serving role.
She also credited her seniors for keeping the team on task.
"The juniors are great too, but I have some good senior leadership out there," Quinlan said. "that they just kind of see that model that you just always think you can come back, even if you're down, and just try to keep pushing back against the other team."
In the first game, the Tigers jumped out to a 4-1 advantage and would extend it to as much as six points on three occasions, the last being 13-7. Three Tioga miscues and a hard shot by the Indians Megan Henry into the back corner cut the gap to 13-11 and Henry was at the service line when the home team tied the game back up at 15.
Two key plays by Selah Ray at the net extended the Candor lead to 18-15, but the Tigers regrouped following a timeout and rallied to tie the score at 18 on the strength of two Molly Bombard plays.
The score would be tied at 19, 20 and 21, then the Indians went ahead to stay when Isabel Makie knocked a shot off a front row defender.
A Brayden Watkins ace and Shelby Swartz misdirection hit highlighted a 5-0 run to open game two, and Candor built a 13-4 cushion with solid front row play and a handful of Tioga miscues. Solid play from Austyn Vance, Katelyn Perry, Nina Spano and Julia Bellis, and a few Indian errors helped the Tigers inch to within six, but Candor scored five of the next six points to make it a 19-10 game.
Tioga scored the next two points, then Candor reeled off four of the next five to extend its advantage to 23-13.
Getting some momentum going was key to the Indians winning game two.
"Any volleyball team, that's what you want," Quinlan said. "You want the momentum and once you get it try and keep it, and I think we do a nice job of when we get it, not letting it go."
"I don't know. Their brains weren't there," Ford said. "They're kids."
The final set saw five ties early, then Emme Hall came up with a big point at the net to put the Tigers up, 9-8. They would build a three-point lead twice before the Indians rallied to tie the game at 17 on Asia Curkendall's blistering hit to the back row.
Two Tioga errors made it 19-17, but a Candor miscue and Perry's side out knotted the score one last time, at 19 apiece. The Indians would score the final six points of the night on strong play at the night, an ace by Watkins and Tioga errors.
Already down middle hitter Reese Howey due to COVID-19 protocols, the Tigers lost Emme Hall late in the match to what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
With the victory, and only one match remaining, Candor (8-1, 7-0 IAC) clinched the division title over Tioga (5-3, 5-2 IAC).
For Candor, Curkendall chalked up 11 kills, six digs, four points and one block assist; Swartz had 10 kills, eight points, seven digs, one solo block and one block assist; and Braelyn Hornick handed out 33 assists to go with seven digs. Ray contributed seven kills and one solo block; Henry pitched in with six kills and six points; and Watkins added 11 points.
Julia Bellis posted 11 kills, five digs, four points, including an ace, and one block for Tioga. Hall chipped in with 10 kills , eight digs, four points, including an ace, and two blocks; and Perry dished out 12 assists and served two points. Vance added five digs and four kills.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Ari Manwaring. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
